ITV wants to axe some regional news services

Since ITV is now a financial basket case, as far as content is concerned, it is a matter of salvage. I would only hope that news is the start of the sell off. If they do, as planned, get rid of the Itv studios production arm, perhaps we might eventually start to see some original programming being pitched. The content of which is not directly affected by the accountants at ITV towers.

As discussed in this thread: http://www.tvforum.co.uk/forums/topic30019

If they sold off the production arm they wouldn't have a great deal left - just commissioning and scheduling a bit like Channels 4 and Five.

I don't know why buying in all their programming would not involve accountants directly... ITV still has to pay for the programmes! Bringing in originality isn't necessarily a given either, ITV still get to select what they want to broadcast if they don't think it's a good idea they don't think it's a good idea whether it comes from in-house or a third party. Just look at the ITV productions pulling in the viewers on other channels!

... as long as someone else pays for the cake.

Where is all this talk about West country coming back?

According to the reports it won't be Westcountry (without a space - ITV also made the same mistake in their branding, and had half of Devon out with their pitchforks in anger), but the one before it, - Television South West which is on the cards for an unexpected comeback.

Bit daft of ITV to want to brand somebody else's work thought. Not very grateful these ITV execs, with all these companies coming forward to save regional television, and they're bossing everyone around.

I'm all for the return of regional identity!

Have they got a date yet for the possible west country return? Or is it still being decided by ITV and Ofcom?

You are safer betting money on when your state retirement age will be after 2040, rather than when Ofcom are going to make a decision.

I suspect the date, as everything else to do with this apparently one-sided 'mexican-stand-off', will be decided by whenever ITV plc consider they have run out of money and threaten to pull the plug on their regional PSB commitments.

Perhaps Ofcon should do the same as the Rail regulator has done to National express' East coast rail franchise - just nationalise the whole of ITV - now that would make Murdoch Junior a little cross